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Award-winning recording artist, CEO of RAMPD, Disability Culture Icon
Lachi is a globally touring recording artist, award winning social entrepreneur, GRAMMYs Chapter Board Governor, and host of PBS’ American Masters series ‘Renegades’. Born legally blind, Lachi uses her platform in music, storytelling and fashion to amplify identity pride and Disability Culture. Her U.N.-recognized organization RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities) has collaborated on disability-inclusive solutions with the GRAMMYs, Netflix, Live Nation and more. Her recent song Lift Me Up in homage to Judy Heumann peaked at #29 on U.S. Adult Contemporary radio. Named a USA Today Woman of the Year, an ADCOLOR Innovator of the Year, a “new champion in advocacy” by Billboard, and “a foot soldier for Disability Pride” by Forbes, her cultural activism has landed her spots on national ads and TEDx stages, discussions with the White House, BBC, Good Morning America and the New York Times.
As a globally touring performer, charting recording artist and award-winning social entrepreneur, Lachi—born legally blind—uses her platform in music, storytelling and fashion to amplify identity pride and Disability Culture to mainstream discussion. From walking the New York Fashion Week and Barbie Premiere carpets with a bejeweled cane to belting ballads on the TEDx stage, Lachi incorporates her disability identity into all aspects of her art, and art into all aspects of her activism. Her work has been lauded in the New York Times, Billboard, Forbes, Good Morning America and USA Today, where she was named a 2024 Woman of the Year.
Lachi is Founder of the U.N.-recognized organization RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities), which—through collaborations with firms like Netflix, Live Nationt, TIDAL and more—brings disability-inclusive programming to the industry and career opportunity to music professionals with disabilities, neurodivergence, and chronic and mental health conditions. RAMPD partners with the GRAMMYs and other notable concerts, festivals and events on high-visibility accessibility and inclusion. In 2023 RAMPD received Ford funding, a Music Business Association award, and a Borealis Philanthropy award for working to bridge the inequality gap for hundreds of music professionals. In 2024 Lachi was named Innovator of the Year by ADCOLOR for her work with RAMPD.
Lachi also governs on the GRAMMYs New York Chapter Board and advises on the National Independent Venue Association, Songwriters of North America and Audio Engineering Society DEI Committees.
As an artist and personality, Lachi partners with international artists and brands, touring globally, to bring her positive spin on disability to international audiences through purpose-driven projects. Her 2023 pop track “Lift Me Up”, celebrating American Sign Language and disability community, peaked at #29 on the national Adult Contemporary Radio charts, airing on BETSoul, MTV.com, and receiving millions of streams across platforms in its first week. She has twice appeared on PBS, hosting segments amplifying disabled rebels, voiced audio-description for Netflix’s Kanye West docu-series, published her NYU study assessing accessibility in the recording industry at the 2023 Audio Engineering Society convention, and regularly holds discussions with top music entities on actionable accessibility and inclusion strategies.
Outside of this, Lachi consults or keynotes and performs at festivals, national firms, nonprofits, universities and cultural centers globally to advance disability, identity and culture. She’s done so with the White House, UN, the BBC, CNBC, Lincoln Center, Julliard, Google, Amazon, FOX corp and many others.
Named a “dedicated foot soldier for disability pride” by Forbes, Lachi’s been featured in Essence, Vogue and LA Times for her advocacy work. She has been listed in Cranes Business 40 Under 40, received a Social Justice Award from New York City Nightlife United, was honored in 100 Women to Know presented by JPMorgan / Chase, named a 2023 Leading Woman by Adage and recognized by both GRAMMY.com and LinkedIn as a go-to voice in disability inclusion.